German Awards - 1st Class Military Merit Cross 1914

The founding of the Military Merit Cross in Mecklenburg-Schwerin dates back to 1848. Grand Duke Frederick Franz II. On August 5, 1848, the cross was established for the war with Denmark. In 1859, 1864 and 1866, the crosses were again renewed formlessly and equipped with the corresponding dates of the year. There was no first class then. Private productions for officers are known. Wearing as a cross was probably tolerated. Since 1870, crosses have become 1. The class is awarded with a smooth back and badge. Known crosses with dates 1866 (subsequently), 1870 and 1877. Since 1887, crosses have not been returned. For the colonial wars in China and Africa, only crosses 2 were used. The class is assigned. Participants in the Chinese campaign received crosses with the number 1900. There are no fighters in Africa.
The Military Merit Cross for World War I was restored by the Grand Duke Friedrich Franz 1915 retroactively on August 2, 1914. The signs of the order remained the same as on the previous crosses. The differences were in slightly coarser, grainy cruciform sleeves, as well as in 1914. It consisted of 2 classes. The 2nd class cross was also awarded a red ribbon for special services in charity. Women received a reduced cross, which was otherwise the same. One difference in the way the 2nd Class was worn was that the rear now had to be carried forward. Class 1 crosses are known with a pin and screw disc, as well as in a smooth and domed shape. A second promotion was planned, to be awarded with oak leaves or a wreath. However, trial instances were no longer implemented. A prerequisite for the 1st class was the previous possession of the 2nd class. The first class, unlike the 2nd class, could only be awarded for services to the enemy. The makers of the crosses were only AWS of Berlin and Zimmermann of Pforzheim, who made almost all of the crosses. Source: J. Nimmergut, Deutsche Orden und Ehrenzeichen bis 1945, vol. II, 1997.

Gilded cross in bronze. The crosses are slightly curved. Along the edge of the cruciform shoulders is a raised shaded edge. The insides are cut. The back side is smooth with a vertical pin.

Front side:

• On the cross sleeves at the top: - crown -, at the bottom: - 1914 -, in the center - FF -
• (For Friedrich Franz)

Downside:

• Sleek and gilded, the upright AnstecKnadel expands centrally.
• (Manufactured by Zimmermann)